Convertible faux birthday cake and decorative gift box

ABSTRACT

A faux decorative cake having an internally hollowed body and a lid releasably engageable with the body for revealing, an open interior. A plurality of candle receiving portions are associated with a top surface of the body, each of the receiving portions having a specified shape and size and including an interiorly defined aperture and to which is selectively and interfittingly engaged an associated candle, such as in a first display configuration. The candles are removable in a further display configuration and the body inverted so that the candle receiving portions double as pedestal supports for the article in a further product holding and decorative display fashion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a Non-Provisional of Provisional (35 USC 119(e)) application 60/863,656 filed on Oct. 12, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to unique and novel gift box combinations. More particularly, the present invention discloses a convertible gift box and fake birthday cake which is arrayed in a first position to mimic a birthday cake with actual support portions to which can be attached candles. The gift box is inverted in a second position and which, upon removal of the candles, provides a pedestal supporting decorative container in addition to a out box for the birthday gift, or a displayable trinket box or canister.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art is well documented with examples of convertible and decorative type articles. A first example of this is set forth in U.S. Design Pat. No. 371.960, to Cheng, and which teaches a decorative cake gift box having a flange shaped bottom and a separately attachable top slidable thereover. A similar design for a cake gift box is also shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. 419,438.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,119, issued to Zelran, teaches a decorative two piece cake container adapted to completely cover a cake, the cake container being appropriately decorated suitable for a specific celebration. Such removable decorations include such as names, dates and the Like.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,790, issued to Snider, teaches a simulated cake and collapsible shipping container including a base plate on which is detachably mounted a cylindrical container side wall member to provide a container for holding a plurality of food items. A circular container top wall member is detachably mounted on the upper end of the cylindrical side wall container member to enclose the same. The cake layer container structure is adapted to have its outer surface coated with real decorative icing and a multiple layer cake may be formed with a plurality of the layer container structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a faux decorative cake having a body with a specified shape and size. A lid portion is associated with the body and is internally hollowed in configuration, the lid further comprising a releasably; engaged portion for revealing the open body interior.

A plurality of candle receiving portions are associated with a top Surface of the body, each of the receiving portions having a specified shape and size and including an interiorly defined aperture and to which is selectively and interfittingly engaged an associated candle, such as in a first display configuration. The candies are removable in a further display configuration and the body inverted so that the candle receiving portions double as pedestal supports for the article, and which now can function as a convention product holding and decorative display article. The body may also include any sort of decorative pattern applied to exterior facing surfaces thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination birthday cake and gift box according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention and in a first faux birthday cake display configuration:

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the combination article shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rotated and converted view of the article of FIG. 1 and in a second article holding and displaying configuration;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the article shown in FIG. 3:

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a combination birthday cake and gift box according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention and in a first flux birthday cake display configuration;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the combination article shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a rotated and converted view of the article of FIG. 5 and in a second article holding and displaying configuration; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the article shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring flow to FIGS. 1-4, a series of perspective (assembled and exploded) views are shown at 10 (first display configuration of FIGS. 1 & 2) and 10′ (second display configuration of FIGS. 3 & 4) of a faux combination birthday cake according to the present invention. As previously described, the faux birthday cake provides a unique and convertible article which operates in a first position as a faux birthday cake with candles. As will be subsequently described, each of the birthday cake designs is invertible to a second position, so as to be settable upon pedestal supports, these doubling as supports for the candles and in order to display the item as a decorative box with a removable lid for placement of a gift item (not shown) or for use as a decorative display.

Referring again to each of FIGS. 1-4, the display article 10 includes a main body constructed of a suitable material, such as which may without limitation include such as a durable paperboard or plasticized composition, and which is shaped to exhibit a substantially circular and three dimensional body. The body includes an annular side wall 12 and an interconnecting; end surface 14.

An associated and selectively removable lid is shown at 16 and includes a rounded annular edge 18. The lid may, be constricted of a similar material as the base and is adapted to being inter-fittingly engaged with an open interior defining location of the base (see as best shown in FIG. 4) and such as for revealing an open volume associated with a hollowed interior of each body.

The present invention contemplates the body of each decorative assembly, e.g. referenced in non-limiting fashion by the round configuration and the hexagonal configuration of the secondary embodiment of FIGS. 5-8. Additional to paperboard or plastic variants of the lid and body it is also contemplated that other material constructions could include such as wood, glass, other types of polymers, ceramics, bone china, or the like. It is also understood that any other shape can be employed ranging front a three-sided body, a four-sided square or rectangular shaped body or any other configuration up to a circular shape.

It is further envisioned that the associated lid 16 can be removable or, in additional preferred variants, can be fixedly secured to the bodies and depending upon whether the assembly is to be employed merely as a decorative display or is also intended to provide storage and display capability of interiorly held items. As shown, the exterior surfaces of each display assembly, including the body and fixed/removable lid, may also include a painted or otherwise decorative applied pattern thereto, see for example decorative pattern 20 in FIG. 1, for the purpose of increasing its aesthetic effect.

A plurality of pedestal supports 22 (five of which are shown in the illustrated example of FIGS. 1-4) extend upwardly from the interconnected end surface 14 (and in FIGS. 1 & 2 corresponding to a top associated face of a selected main body). The arrangement and number of supports is variable, depending upon the size and configuration of the box design, however at least three are typically provided and so that the article can additionally function in the manner also illustrated in FIGS. 3 & 4.

Each of the extending supports 22 exhibits a specified shape and size and can be fixedly secured to the body surface 14, in addition to being releasably secured (such as through the provisions of mounting clips or fasteners) to the body or even easily removable if engaged in a resistive inter-fit fashion, such as through the provision of such as pin and dowel hole arrangements.

The supports 22 each further include an interiorly defined end surface aperture, at 24 as best shown in FIG. 2, for receiving an associated candle 26. In the illustrated configuration of FIGS. 1 & 2, the purpose of each of the pluralities of supports (or feet) 22 is to secure thereto the birthday candies 26, and which by themselves comprise known articles which can be obtained from any available source. The shaping of each of the pedestal Supports 22 is further such that the interiorly formed aperture includes appropriately dimensioned interior side walls for securely gripping an associated candle according to the display illustrated in each of the several drawing illustrations.

The present design also contemplates substituting the sets of candle-supporting feet with the provision of small holes in the bottom (also referenced as top associated faces) of each decorative body. The substitution of the support feet with holes (see for example at 28 in FIG. 1 as referencing body 10) permits the body to be supported flat upon a surface (as opposed to spaced upwardly by the support feet) and when inverted to) the position of FIG. 3

Referencing again each of FIGS. 3 & 4, illustrated are rotated and converted views of the gift box designs, in this version now operating as a gift display (or trinket 29 holding as shown in FIG. 4) box according to the present invention. In particular, the candles 26 are removed and the display box article inverted, are supported upon the plurality of pedestal supports 22.

As previously described, the associated lids 16 may be removable to reveal gift contents associated with each display assembly or, alternatively it is contemplated that the lid may be integrally formed with the associated article in order to provide a purely decoratively effecting article. As such, the “fake birthday cake” according to the present invention operates in a first variant to provide a replica and lightable faux cake design and, in a further inverted variant, to provide a gift, display or trinket holding box, such as for a gift item held within its interior or provided simply for the purpose of decoration, thus increasing its value.

Referencing FIGS. 5-8, a secondary variant of the present invention is illustrated, generally at 30 in the faux cake configuration of FIGS. 5 & 6, and further at 30′ in the converted and gift holding foot support display views of FIGS. 7 & 8. The article of FIGS. 5-8 is substantially identical to that shown in each of FIGS. 1-4, such that a repetitive description of all of the features is unnecessary, however in particular illustrates that both a body 32 with a connecting top surface 33 and associated lid 34 with a perimeter extending edge 35, both of which can exhibit a hexagonal cross sectional con figuration.

The invention contemplates that any cross sectionally configured article, exhibiting any number of sides ranging from three (triangular shape) to infinity (circular shape) can be employed. A smaller plurality of only three extending supports 36 is shown in the embodiment 30, each of which can include candle supporting apertures 38 and/or, alternatively, additional apertured portions, at 40 in FIG. 5, formed directly into at least the exposed interconnecting surface of the body 32 and which can also support the candles or otherwise function as additional decorative components.

Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A faux decorative cake, comprising: a body having a specified shape and size; a plurality of candle receiving portions associated with a surface of said body; and a plurality of candles being interfittingly engaged with each of said portions in a first display configuration, said candles being removed and said body inverted in a second display configuration.
 2. The cake as described in claim 1, further comprising a lid portion associated with said body.
 3. The cake as described in claim 2, said body being internally hollowed in configuration, said lid further comprising a releasably engageable portion for revealing said open body interior.
 4. The cake as described in claim 1, each of said portions having a specified shape and size and including an interiorly defined aperture for receiving an associated candle.
 5. The cake as described in claim 1, said candle receiving portions further comprising extending portions.
 6. The cake as described in claim 1, said candle receiving portions further comprising holes defined in said surface.
 7. The cake as described in claim 1, each of said bodies further comprising a material selected from at least one of a group including wood, glass, polymers, ceramics, and bone china.
 8. The cake as described in claim 7, further comprising a decorative pattern applied to exterior facing surfaces associated with said body.
 9. The cake as described in claim 3, further comprising said body and assembleable lid defining, collectively, at least one of a circular and a hexagonal shaped article.
 10. A faux decorative cake, comprising: a body having a specified shape and including an extending side wall and an interconnected end surface defining an internally hollowed configuration; a releasably engageable lid associated with said body and collectively defining a cross section exhibiting any number of sides ranging from three to infinity; a plurality of candle receiving portions associated with a surface of said body, each of said portions having a specified shape and size and including an interiorly defined aperture; and a plurality of candles being interfittingly engaged into inner side walls defined by said apertures in each of said receiving portions and in a first display configuration, said candles being removed and said body inverted in a second display configuration to further define a product holding container. 